Maison Law not only represents injury victims in accidents, but also in things like assaults. The fact is, any act of violence can leave you just as hurt–sometimes more so–as a car accident or slip and fall. In order to better understand these incidents, it’s important to look at the underlying statistics and what options you have. If you’ve been hurt in an assault in California, contact us today for a free consultation.
How Many Assaults Are There in California?
With such a large population, it’s really no surprise that so many assaults happen in California. Not only are there more people here, but many different cultures and a large disparity in conditions. This, obviously, leads to assaults. According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 2022 in California saw:
- 129,899 aggravated assaults.
Over the last few years, this number has shifted:
- 2018 – 105,031
- 2019 – 105,544
- 2020 – 113,646
- 2021 – 126,709
With such numbers, it’s important to look at the many different types of assaults that can happen, which unfortunately are found throughout the state:
- Simple assaults – These involve intentionally causing someone to fear immediate harm or injury. It doesn’t necessarily involve physical contact, but the threat of it.
- Aggravated assault – This is a more serious form of assault that involves causing serious injury to someone with a weapon or under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death.
- Domestic violence – This is an assault that happens within a familial or intimate relationship. It can involve physical, emotional, or psychological harm.
- Sexual assaults – These involve any unwanted sexual contact or behavior, including rape, molestation, or harassment.
- Assault with a deadly weapon – This type of assault happens when a weapon that can cause serious injury or death to another person is used.
- Assaults during robberies – This happens when someone is assaulted with the intention of committing another crime, like a robbery or burglary.
- Hate crimes – These are assaults motivated by bias or prejudice against a certain person’s race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or some other characteristic.
With such a wide range of factors, it’s clear that an assault can happen anywhere. That said, statistics also show where these incidents are more likely to happen in California.
Where Do Most Assaults Happen?
When you stop to think about the many different places you go during a typical day, the possibility of an assault and harm isn’t too far-fetched. At the same time you don’t go to a grocery store or work expecting to suffer such an incident. According to the FBI’s data the California cities with the most assaults in 2022 were:
- Los Angeles – 20,178
- San Diego – 4,173
- Fresno – 3,465
- Oakland – 3,164
- Sacramento – 2,767
Obviously, the population centers present in the above cities make it fairly understandable why there’s more assaults in these areas. At the same time, though, an assault can happen anywhere at any time. However, there are certain places where they’re more likely to happen in these cities–and everywhere else in California:
- Homes and apartment complexes
- Parking lots
- Shopping centers and stores
- Bars and nightclubs
- Gyms
- Schools
- Workplaces
- Dimly lit public areas or parks
When there’s an assault, no matter where it happens, it’s vital that you get medical attention and report the incident to the property owner and police so they can respond.
Who is Vulnerable to Assaults?
While an assault can happen pretty much anywhere, you should remember that they can also happen to anyone. However, much like there’s certain conditions where an assault is more likely to happen, there’s parts of the population that are more vulnerable.
A 2023 report from the California Violence Experiences Survey (CalVEX) found that:
- 5% of adults in California experienced physical violence in 2023.
Of these, the breakdown by gender:
- 44% of women
- 43% of men
- 68% of non-binary people
Importantly, the data also underscores the rate of physical violence by race in California, with:
- 7% of Latinx and Blacks
- 3% of Whites and Asians
It’s unfortunate that so many Californians experience physical violence like assaults. At the same time, legally speaking, there’s mechanisms in place to help them recover. In civil court, this involves filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Can Our Lawyers Help You After an Assault?
If you’ve been harmed by an assault in California, you have the option of filing a civil complaint against the person or party responsible, it’s crucial to grasp what financial support you may be able to recover.
Often, such incidents leave you with severe injuries and losses. California personal injury law seeks to address this by allowing victims to seek “damages” in an injury claim. In such cases, you could potentially receive:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost income from missed work
- Repair or replacement costs for any damaged property
- Loss of enjoyment of life and companionship
- Funeral and burial expenses, in the event of a fatal assault
In cases of gross negligence or intentional harm in an assault, punitive damages could be awarded by the judge. These are on top of these other damages, and are designed to punish the wrongdoer and discourage similar behavior in the future.
Contact Maison Law For Support in California
Getting assaulted in California is one of the most difficult things a person can experience. Aside from the physical harm in the moment, there’s often lifelong trauma leftover for you to deal with. At Maison Law, we know how difficult any injury can be, and we’ll be there to give you the legal support you need during this difficult time. If you or a loved one have been assaulted in California and want to talk about your case, contact us today for a free consultation.
